Cave/Jews, 4. Do Jews not Care about Animal Welfare?

A common criticism of Jews levelled by antisemites is that Judaism fosters an unethical attitude toward animals. During the Nazi period, such criticism was a central theme. In Nazi propaganda, kashrut (a set of Jewish laws regulating slaughter) was deliberately misrepresented so as to tie in with claims that Jews engaged in perverse ritual killings of humans for their blood. The truth, however, is that Judaism teaches that animals are part of God’s creation and should be treated with compassion. This principle is referred to in rabbinic sources as ‘tzar baalei chayim’ (the prohibition on causing pain to any living creature). According to the Talmud, Jews are not to cause suffering to any animals – such a view is based on Bible stories which use kindness to animals as a demonstration of the virtues of various individuals.